Blazing Grace has an international medical ministry program as well that operates abroad.
our mission
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BLAZING GRACE MISSION is a movement for humanitarian, health and spiritual ministry dedicated to improving the quality of life through a balance of technology, medical knowledge, exemplary service and multifaceted holistic care to our local communities and a diverse international population. Our health ministry is dedicated to serving all persons, regardless of age, race, creed, gender or ability to pay. We believe that our first obligation is to the patient and families that we serve improving their lives through compassionate care and patient education. We dedicate ourselves to those we serve knowing “to the world you are just one person but to that one person you touch, you can mean the world.”
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to the world you are just one person, but to that one person you touch, you can mean the world
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
It all started in 1989 during my community medicine posting at a village 45 miles east of Enugu, the capital of Enugu State, (then Anambra State):
A shout………..
Another scream………
More screaming…………..
And more wailing and screaming and crying…………
That means another person is about to lose the battle of life and move to the land beyond………
That means another family will loose a loved one, a father, or mother, or bread winner. And that means the status quo of someone's future is on the edge and may be finally shattered forever.
A man was brought into the make shift health care facility (school hall).
The eye witness account was that the man screamed of a headache and then fell to the ground. Convulsed. And then could not open his eyes, talk or move his body except for occasional twitches. He could not blink. The eyewitnesses, a man and another lady that had been hired by this downed gentleman for the day's work and hopeful for a pay that will provide for their family, precious needful food they had foregone for 2 or 3 days. Now faced with the grim future of loosing their employer and having their family starve.
We ran out to the van that brought us to the community, placed the downed man into one of the back seats and asked the driver to speed up back to the teaching hospital (remember 45 miles away) through the busy highway and streets/roadways of Enugu. You can tell the outcome. It was worth the trial. That is the effort to move him to the nearest hospital.
We did what we could in the instant and with what resources that we had.
The driver returned 4 hours later to get the rest of us back to campus.
While the crew left, we continued our mission there. Having the people come through, tell us what ailments they had and get the little help we had to offer. Most of which was education of what health condition they had and how they can work on addressing their issues.
Two big huddles which though we identified, but no one had any way to resolve them. The first was the problem of accessibility to that care that we proposed. And the second was affordability.
As I was home in March 2002 for medical mission, a lady came in to visit with my mother, face twitching and right side of face deviating to the left. My mom called my attention as she realized this friend was having serious problems. The friend stated that her symptoms started early that morning (a couple of hours ago). Her speech was affected too. I checked her BP and it was 260/150. She was also diabetic. She was fully evaluated and started on standard therapy to control her blood sugar and blood pressure. I also advised her to follow up with a local physician with the names of the medications she is currently on from time to time. I was told late that she was fine and had been using the medications that I had given her. And that she had wanted to know when I will be coming back next as her medications are running low. This was in mid 2004.
In 2006, I was home again. The need this time was even more tremendous than in the 80s or in 2002. And did I mention, my mom had passed, and likewise her friend.
Back in the days of my medical school training, people got sick sparingly even though most that did died. Now, more people get ill; gravely ill. And still many of these die too. What is common is still the same as before: lack of accessible and affordable quality healthcare.
Of certainty is the upsurge in the incidence and prevalence of hypertension and worse, diabetes in the communities of Nigeria, with worse outcomes in the eastern part of the country. And now, diabetes and its untold complications are striving to surpass hypertension as the #1 killer in these parts.
And colon cancer (previously sparingly seen) is now on the rise.
And breast cancer.
And HIV/AIDS which have reached epidemic proportions.
A shout………..
Another scream………
More screaming…………..
And more wailing and screaming and crying…………
That means another person is about to lose the battle of life and move to the land beyond………
That means another family will loose a loved one, a father, or mother, or bread winner. And that means the status quo of someone's future is on the edge and may be finally shattered forever.
A man was brought into the make shift health care facility (school hall).
The eye witness account was that the man screamed of a headache and then fell to the ground. Convulsed. And then could not open his eyes, talk or move his body except for occasional twitches. He could not blink. The eyewitnesses, a man and another lady that had been hired by this downed gentleman for the day's work and hopeful for a pay that will provide for their family, precious needful food they had foregone for 2 or 3 days. Now faced with the grim future of loosing their employer and having their family starve.
We ran out to the van that brought us to the community, placed the downed man into one of the back seats and asked the driver to speed up back to the teaching hospital (remember 45 miles away) through the busy highway and streets/roadways of Enugu. You can tell the outcome. It was worth the trial. That is the effort to move him to the nearest hospital.
We did what we could in the instant and with what resources that we had.
The driver returned 4 hours later to get the rest of us back to campus.
While the crew left, we continued our mission there. Having the people come through, tell us what ailments they had and get the little help we had to offer. Most of which was education of what health condition they had and how they can work on addressing their issues.
Two big huddles which though we identified, but no one had any way to resolve them. The first was the problem of accessibility to that care that we proposed. And the second was affordability.
As I was home in March 2002 for medical mission, a lady came in to visit with my mother, face twitching and right side of face deviating to the left. My mom called my attention as she realized this friend was having serious problems. The friend stated that her symptoms started early that morning (a couple of hours ago). Her speech was affected too. I checked her BP and it was 260/150. She was also diabetic. She was fully evaluated and started on standard therapy to control her blood sugar and blood pressure. I also advised her to follow up with a local physician with the names of the medications she is currently on from time to time. I was told late that she was fine and had been using the medications that I had given her. And that she had wanted to know when I will be coming back next as her medications are running low. This was in mid 2004.
In 2006, I was home again. The need this time was even more tremendous than in the 80s or in 2002. And did I mention, my mom had passed, and likewise her friend.
Back in the days of my medical school training, people got sick sparingly even though most that did died. Now, more people get ill; gravely ill. And still many of these die too. What is common is still the same as before: lack of accessible and affordable quality healthcare.
Of certainty is the upsurge in the incidence and prevalence of hypertension and worse, diabetes in the communities of Nigeria, with worse outcomes in the eastern part of the country. And now, diabetes and its untold complications are striving to surpass hypertension as the #1 killer in these parts.
And colon cancer (previously sparingly seen) is now on the rise.
And breast cancer.
And HIV/AIDS which have reached epidemic proportions.
how we help
- Provide Health Education.
- Provide Health Care Awareness.
- Provide Free Health Care where necessary.
- Partner with local entities/healthcare facilities to facilitate the provision of healthcare services not otherwise within the reach of ordinary individuals in the community including provision of renal replacement therapies- peritoneal and hemodialysis.
- Partner with local entities/healthcare facilities in promoting spiritual growth and upliftment.
- Partnering with our sponsors in reaching the lost and medically forgotten, a world away.
Projects
- Annual mission in June (if there are enough volunteers). Usually 14-20 days.
- Biannual Missions in March and September (if there are enough volunteers). Usually 6-10 days.
- Medical
- Health Education
- Religious activities
- Construction and Engineering (if volunteers are available).
Volunteers may enroll in each of these core areas. More ideas are welcome and may be added in future mission projects.
DATES OF ENROLLMENT:
For March: Enroll before December 1.
For June: Enroll before February 1.
For September: Enroll before June 1.
Limit to 15 persons per trip.
For March: Enroll before December 1.
For June: Enroll before February 1.
For September: Enroll before June 1.
Limit to 15 persons per trip.
Programs
Students Program:
Education and Research
Help in Projects and Research for students in colleges and high school.
Topics:
Speakers Bureau:
We need speakers in various fields to enroll in health care, health education and interdisciplinary activities.
Topics
- Tour of Rural African village
- Cultural interaction
- Native/African farming techniques
- Visit to orphanages.
- Visit to other places of interest (to be identified before each group visit).
Education and Research
Help in Projects and Research for students in colleges and high school.
Topics:
- Community Affairs
- Practical/Traditional healthcare in rural African village
- The origin of the Ibos in Africa.
- And more to be added.
Speakers Bureau:
We need speakers in various fields to enroll in health care, health education and interdisciplinary activities.
Topics
- Health education and awareness
- HIV/AIDS prevention and care
- Integrity and Honesty 100.
- Work Ethics 101.
- Money Management.
- Building small scale business ventures.
- Tithing 102.
How to help
How to help:
VOLUNTEER SERVICES:
(Blocked out due to COVID-19 Pandemic. Will resume mission planning when the pandemic is contained. Please bear with us. Your utmost safety is our concern too).
RESOURCE DONATIONS:
You may partner with us directly by participating in the mission trips to Nigeria or you may sponsor someone you do or don’t know.
Names of registered individuals who need assistance can be accessed in the partners’ column. Feel free to contact them and share their enthusiasm. Maybe, you too will some day decide to be part of this mission service.
MONETARY DONATIONS:
As you are aware, the various mission trips demand a lot of funds to accomplish. The various individuals attending do sponsor themselves or may need sponsors. The airfare, accommodations and feeding of each member of the trip is between 2-3 thousand dollars. Then the tools required for each trip including medications, medical supplies, bibles, books (in related topics), writing materials (pens, pencils, paper) and the shipment of these materials.
These will cost a great deal. They cannot be accomplished without your help and assistance. Therefore, we ask that you help in any way you possibly can to see that these men, women and children of these needy communities receive fair healthcare service.
A healthy mind and body brings forth brighter future. Your support will go a long way to ensuring that the above saying holds true for these ones.
PARTNERS:
Names of our partners will be displayed in each monthly news bulletin/news letter. (If you don’t want to be listed, we will respect that request, simply state “don’t display” on your check or note accompanying your donation).
Overseas partners:
Blazing Grace Mission (BGM) Nigeria
Contact us:
Blazing Grace Mission
2338 W. 50th Avenue,
Kennewick, WA 99337
USA
Phone: 918-577-2557
VOLUNTEER SERVICES:
(Blocked out due to COVID-19 Pandemic. Will resume mission planning when the pandemic is contained. Please bear with us. Your utmost safety is our concern too).
RESOURCE DONATIONS:
You may partner with us directly by participating in the mission trips to Nigeria or you may sponsor someone you do or don’t know.
Names of registered individuals who need assistance can be accessed in the partners’ column. Feel free to contact them and share their enthusiasm. Maybe, you too will some day decide to be part of this mission service.
MONETARY DONATIONS:
As you are aware, the various mission trips demand a lot of funds to accomplish. The various individuals attending do sponsor themselves or may need sponsors. The airfare, accommodations and feeding of each member of the trip is between 2-3 thousand dollars. Then the tools required for each trip including medications, medical supplies, bibles, books (in related topics), writing materials (pens, pencils, paper) and the shipment of these materials.
These will cost a great deal. They cannot be accomplished without your help and assistance. Therefore, we ask that you help in any way you possibly can to see that these men, women and children of these needy communities receive fair healthcare service.
A healthy mind and body brings forth brighter future. Your support will go a long way to ensuring that the above saying holds true for these ones.
PARTNERS:
Names of our partners will be displayed in each monthly news bulletin/news letter. (If you don’t want to be listed, we will respect that request, simply state “don’t display” on your check or note accompanying your donation).
Overseas partners:
Blazing Grace Mission (BGM) Nigeria
Contact us:
Blazing Grace Mission
2338 W. 50th Avenue,
Kennewick, WA 99337
USA
Phone: 918-577-2557